Foundry ladle crane



y A. THOMAS FOUNDRY LADLE CRANE- Filed March 1 1926 e Sheets-Sheet 1 May17, 1927.

A. THOMAS FOUNDRY LADLE CRANE Filed March 19 1926 e Sheets-Sheet 2 May17 1927.

1,629,184 A. THOMAS FOUNDRY LADLE CRANE Filed March 1 1926 6Sheets-Sheet 3 May 17, 1927.

A. THOMAS FOUNDRY LADLE CRANE Filed March 19, 1926 e Sheets-Sheet 4 A.THOMAS FOUNDRY LAD'LE CRANE Filed March 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 1,629 184May 17,1927. I ATHOMAS I FOUNDRY LADLE CRANE Filed March 19, 1926 6Sheets-Sheet 6 m d/2m; @k I Patented May '17,- 1927.

ARTHUR THOMAS, OF MOm-SUR-MABCHIENNE, BELGI UM, ASSIGNOR v'10. ATELIERSDE CONSTBUCTIONS ELEGTBIQUES DE SELS, BELGIUM.

CHARLEB OI, SOCIETE ANONYME, 01'! BRUS- FOUNDBY L'ADLE CRANE.

Application filed March 19, 1926, Serial No. 95,865, and in BelgiumMarch 25, 1925.

Infoundry ladle cranes as employed in modern 1 steel foundries and thelike, the various movements of the pouring ladle required for theoperations of filling from the converter or steel furnace, and ofpouring into the ingot moulds, viz, hoisting, advancing, slewing andtilting, are effected by a combination of electrical energy withhydraulic power; the latter is generated by a high pressure force pumparranged beneath the crane itself and driven by an electric motor. I Thewhole of the pivoting part, secured to a cylinder similar to a hydraulicaccumulator, is lifted by hydraulic pressure acting upon the ram orpiston mounted in the truck or rolling part. of the apparatus.

Consequently the greater part of the crane, viz, the mechanisms andmotors for slewing, advancing and tilting the ladle, the

hydraulic pum with its 'motor and reducing gear, tan r-frame,under-frame, cab,

counterweight, 'longitudinalbearers, and electrical equipment, must behoisted up together with the ladle containing the molten steel. At eachslewing movement, the whole of this group pivotsupon the water or elseupon the'roller tracks in the lowest position of the ladle. This load'tobe displaced at each operation represents for example'for an eight-tonladle containing twenty tons of steel, a dead weight of eight-y tons, or

280 per cent of the useful load to be hoisted. Thepresent invention hasfor its object a form of' construction of foundry ladle cranes whichallows of suppressing completely the hoisting of this dead weight and ofobviating the use of hydraulic energy, all the movements being carriedout by electrical means.

Upon. the annexed-drawings, to which ref-- erence is made in thesubsequent description, the same referenceletters and numerals designatethe same parts or-elements.

' Figure 1 represents by way of example an elevation'o'f a completecrane, arranged according to the improved construction forming thepresent invention; the jib carrying the ladle isassumed to be'sle wedin'iine I with the roller tracks, and the cab to be cut a vertical planeso as to disclose away along for hoisting a portion of the mechanismsand for advancing the ladle.

Figure 2 is a plan view' of the pivot ng part of the same crane, the cabwhich eucloses the mechanisms and the electrical equipment beingrepresented in section along a-horizontal plane, so as to" show thedetails of the mechanisms for hoisting, slewing, advancing and tiltingthe ladle.

Figure 3 represents on the left half, a sectional view of theladle-supporting jib and its runway,

this half being a transverse section upon the broken line ABCD of Figure1; the right half of the figure is an elevation of this detail.

Figure 4 is apart horizontal section on the line G-H of Figure 1,showing a modified arrangement of the hoisting cables.

Figure 5 shows in detail the arrangement. for tilting the pouring ladleshown by way of example in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 6 represents, by way of example, I

an elevation of a foundry ladle crane embodying an improved arrangementfor tilting the pouring ladle, the jib carrying the pouring ladle beingslewed parallel with the runways. The cab is assumed to be cut along avertical plane in such a way as to disclose. the tilting mechanism. Theparts shown in the previous figures and not di- 5 rectly interested havenot been reproduced. Figure 7 1s a corresponding plan view,

the cabin being represented in section alongv a horizontal plane. Figure8 represents in elevation a detail of the tilting mechanism shown inFigures 6 and '7. v

Figure 9 is a plan vievi corresponding to Figure 8.

Upon a frame 1, .arrangedto slew around a vertical axis but not to riseand fall, and extended by overhanging girders 2 forming a runway, thereis movable in a horizontaldirection a rocking beam or jib 3 carrying theladle 6; 'see Figures 1 and 2;

This jib 3 consists of two similar side plates 3' rigidly bracedtogether. At its centre it rests upon the runway by means of two rollers4 mounted upon the fixed axle zontal axle 7 receiving two grooved'pulleys 8 on its projcctingextremities, i. e. externally of the sideplates, the object of these pulleys being explained hereafter.

The axles 5 and 7, being fixed, serve to reinforce the bracing of thetwo side plates 3' effected by means of-angle irons or bars as seen inFigure 2.

The axle 5 is extended on each side beyond the rollers 4 in order toreceive the respective halves of an auxiliary reaction jib 9. Theauxiliary jib members are each formed by two interspaced plates 9 ofapproximately triangular shape; at'the ends opposite 'to their pivotalconnection to the axle 5, they each carry internally two grooved pulleys10, 11, similar to the pulleys 8 and rotating upon fixed axes 12, 13form= ing distance pieces between the plates. The function of thesepulleys will be referred to later. The bottom corners of each pair ofplates 9 are spaced apart by shouldered pins 14, the projecting ends ofwhich receive the reaction rollers 15, 16, as seen in Figure 3.

The rollers 16 exert an upward pressure against rails 17 arrangedbeneath the runway girders 2, while the rollers 15 exert a pressure inthe same direction beneath small supplementary track rails 18 parallelto the girders 2. I

It will be seen that the main jib 3 and the auxiliary jibs 9 can rollalong the girders 2, guided by the above-mentioned rollers, but whereasthe jibs 9 have only a movement of translation, the main jib 3 can inaddition rock about the axle 5.

This oscillatory movement of the jib 3 around the axle 5 is produeed'bythe rotation of two drums 19 driven as in an ordinary hoist or winch bya speed reducing gear 22 and a motor 23, provided with an electromagnetbrake 24 for stopping purposes.

Upon each of the drumg') 19 there is fastened the end of a cable -0which can be wound thereon. The said cable engages successively in thegrooved pulleys 10, 8 and 11, its other end being attached to a cabletension device 21 secured to the extremity of the corresponding girder2.

It will be understood that the rotation of the drums 19, in onedirect-ion or the other.

. causes the rise or fall of the pulleys 8 mo'unt ed upon the main jib3, and communicates to this jib 3, rocking on the axle 5, a movement ofoscillation in a vertical plane; consequently, the pouring ladle 6 willhe raised. when the pulley 8 falls, and vice versa. The oscil latorymovement of the jib 3 is produced even if the said ib is given amovement of translation at the same time. j

The upward'forces exerted uponthe pulleys '10 and 11 are supported by.the auxiliary jib members already described. The small height of thelift necessitates only a limited winding capacity andallows the use ofnarrow drums 19 aswell as cable 20 of large diameter, offering as aresult a large factor of safety.

As a modification, the cable tension de vices 21 ma be omitted and asingle cable 20 provide (as illustrated in Figure 5), its ends beingattached to the drums 19 and the cable passing successively over thepulleys 10, s, 11, 36, 37, 37', 36, 11', s and 10', every length ofcable being subjected to equal tension in this case. The cable may beprotected against splashes of molten steel by detachable sheet metalguards (not shown).

.Another modification consists in reducing the load upon the cables bybalancing the 'weight of the belt 6 alone or else the combined weight ofthe belt andthe empty ladle 6, by means of a counterweight 38 arrangedupon or near the axle 7 (Figure 3).

The movement of translation or travel of the jib is effected as inordinary ladle cranes. For this purpose two rack bars 25, connected tothe axle 5, are meshed each with a pinion 26 driven by the motor 28through a reducing gear 27. Neglecting friction, the power required fortravel is in no way affected by the. hoisting cables, the tension intheir operating lengths being always balanced. This movement oftranslation can be carried out in both directions without any verticaloscillation of the ladle 6, from the moment when the drums 19 arebrought to rest.

Naturally the two motions can be synchronized for oblique liftingof theladle.

The up-tilting of the ladle for the removal of scoria and scale may beeffected for example simply as ina foundry gantry, as represented inFigures 1, 2, 3 and 5, A cable 31,

terminating in a ring 30 attached to the hook 29 secured to the bottomof the ladle 6, passes over a groove jockey pulley 32 loose upon theaxle 5, and is then wound upon a drum 33 operated in the same way 'asthe drums 19 but independently thereof and without requiring anelectromagnetic brake. A brake operated by hand or foot may how ever beprovided, the brake being normally off and being fitted with a pawl orsector for holding it applied. In order to obviate false movements andto prevent the operation of the drum 33 interfering with the travel ofthe main jib. the motor-coupling is fitted with a torque-limiting device34 and the ring 30 has a suitable stop 35 which arrests the cable 31 andcauses-the operation of the said torque-limiting device.

The main jib 3 can draw out the cable 31 in its forward travel; duringits backward movement, the height of the axle 5 is sufficient to keepthe cable 31 from dragging on the ground owing to the"dru1n 33 beingstationary.

The cable 31 may, of course, be replaced bya chain or by a length ofchain connected to a cable. thelatter forming the part to be Wound uponthe drum 33.

'movement'may be produced by a worm'and worm wheel or the like, thisdevice being operatedby hand or by electric motor. The device in uestionmay be:

Either fitted-directly to the jib 3- as in known forms of-sling orcarriage for iron or steel foundry ladles.

' Or controlled from the drivers cab, which is the position recognizedas the most advantageous. I

Figures 6 to 9 represent, by way of example, an arrangement ofthis lastkind, op-

erated by electric motor and suitable for -cranes of the type previouslydescribed.

Upon one of the pivots or trunnions 6' of the pouring ladle 6 (or of thebelt 6" in the case of a detachable ladle) there is keyed agear wheel a(see particularly Figures 8 and 9) meshing with a pinion b fixed to theextremityof a shaft 0; this shaft revolves in hearings fixed upon one ofthe side plates 3' of the jib 3 and carries likewise at its otherextremity a pinion d, which meshes with a toothed wheel e loose upon theaxle 5.

It may be recalled that it is around this fixed axle 5 that the jib 3oscillates and that moreover the said axle is subject to a movement oftranslation or horizontal travel.v

Thewheels a and e and the pinions b and d are conical or bevel gearsandsimilar each to each or else the ratio of reduction between the wheel aand the pinion b is identical with the flatio between the wheel 6 andthe pinion The toothed wheel e being mounted loose upon the axle 5, asstated above, the movement of-oscillation of the jib 3 has no effectupon the mechanism; as-regards the longitudinal travel, it will beexplained hereafter ,how this is compatible with the said mechamsm. 1

The wheel e is extended by a boss e upon which is keyed a worm wheel factuated by a worm 9 (see Figure 6) mounted at the extremity of a shaft7' driven indirectly by the motor.

This group constitutes the worm reduction gear, but between thismechanism and the motor there is interposed another reduction geareither of the type previously de scribed or of any suitable kind.

This reduction may be for exampleby gear wheels as represented. at k inFigures 6 and 7. It completesthemeduction neces- "sary forthezspeeds-usually adopted for the tilting of the pouring ladle.

The shaft j has a portion of its length of polygonal; or square sectionfor example, in such a way that it can slide the hub of the converter orthe pouring into ingots.

vertical position or the initial inclination of high tonnage.

toothed wheel of the reduction gear I; while remaining fast therewith asregards the movement of rotation of the said wheel.

The bearings which support the Worm g mounted upon the'shaft j arecombined with 70 an oil bath casing l for the worm wheel f this casingbeing fixed permanently upon the axle 5.

Thus any horizontal travel of the said axle 5 is transmitted by the wormwheel f to the worm g. and therefore to the shaft j upon which it iskeyed, the shaft j remaining however in sliding engagement with thetoothed wheel of the reduction gear is. 7

From the foregoing explanation it will be understood that it is alwayspossible to con trol the tilting movement of the pouring ladle 6whateverbe the position occupied by the said ladle.

- The arrangement represented in Figures 6 to 9 presents the advantages,that firstly, the tilting movement ofthe pouring ladle is quiteindependent of the hoisting, travelling and slewing movcmentsof the jib,and is controlled exclusively from the drivers position; secondly thatthe attachment of a cable or any other auxiliary operation necessary inthe usual arrangements is suppressed; lastly, that the untimely orundesirable rotation of the pouring ladle 6 is obviated during upwardand downward iiiovements of the said ladle, produced-by the oscillationof the jib 3 around the axle 5,, for example, duringvthe filling fromthe In operation, the tilting mechanism will I be stopped when thepouring ladle 6 has reached a given position, either vertical orinclined at a certain angle; by reason of the stoppage, the worm 9 holdsfast the toothed wheel 7 and therefore the toothed wheel e.

If at this moment the jib 3 is made to oscillate for the purpose ofproducing the rise and fall of the pouring ladle 6, the

of the said ladle cannot thereby be modified, for the toothed wheels '6and a being plane tary gears the pinions b' and (1 will then act assatellites.

I The tilting mechanism. previously described with reference to Figures'6 to 9 is only one example of construction; it is naturally permissibleto adopt any other arrangement of parts allowing of attaining thesameend without departing from the scope of the invention.

The other mechanisms of the improved ladle crane do not differmateriallyfrom the known arrangements; the pivoting part rests upon fourrollers running upon a circular rail for cranes of low' tonnage, andupon eight rollers connected in pairs or eight rbllers mounted uponequalizers for cranes In the case of eight conn t d rollers there are twcircular rails-v departing from the scope of the invention,

other means for the same purpose to effect the rocking movement of thejib 3, such as links, rods, cranks, worm and wheel, screw and nut, bevelwheels, shafts, etc., the operation of these devices can likewise bevefilected electrically in accordance Withthe present invention.

The improved construction of foundryladle cranes presents the followingadvan ta es:-

21) Complete suppression of all hydraulic apparatus and the drawbacksdue to the use of water under pressure: water hammer, leakages fromjoints and glands, high cost of-upkeep and repairs, complete lifting ofthe whole pivoting part with a View to the replacement of the cupleather in the lower.

gland, losses in the transformation of energy, etc.

I (2) Reduction by about 63 per cent of the weight to be raised, anddirect utilization of the electric current, giving great economy inpower: by way of example, for a crane of 20 tons useful load, the powernecessary to effeet the lift at a speed of one metre per minute isreduced to approximately ten H. P. instead of twenty-eight H. P.required to operate the pressure pump in the electrohydraulic cran It istherefore feasible to increase the hoisting speed, while using a motorof lower power than previously; thus a speed of two metres per minutecan be obtained with a motor of twenty H. P. in the example given.

(3) Suppression of the heavy frame and tank for the pump suction.

(4) Small dimensions of the cab enclosing the mechanisms and operatingmeans.

(5) Suppression of flexible cables or vertical current leads required bythe upward movement of the pivoting part.

(6) Simpler and lighter mechanism as a whole, and therefore lower costof the appa ratus. Less over-all height.

(7) Operating means moved further back, consequently less exposure ofthe operator to the heat of the molten material, and increased field ofvision.

What I claim is 1. A foundry ladle crane,- comprising 5 structureadapted to pivot around a vertical axis, a ladle-support mounted on saidstructure, means for slewing said-structure wlth said ladle supportaround said axis, means for operating said ladle support to move theladle towards and away from said axis, and independent means foroperating, said ladlesupport to raise and lower the ladle withoutlifting said pivotal structure.

2., A foundry ladle crane, comprising a structure adapted to pivotaround a vertical axis, a ladle-support mounted on said structure, saidladle-support consisting of a rocking beam. an ,axle to said beamintermediate of its ends, means for controlling the-'rock-' ing movementof said beam upon its axle, and means for guiding said axle and beam inhorizontal travel towards and away from said axis.

3. A foundry ladle crane, comprising a structure adapted to pivot arounda vertlcal axis, a rocking beam, an axle to said rocking.

beam intermediate of its ends, rollers rotatably mounted upon said axle,runways for said rollers upon said structure, means for supporting aladle atone end of said rocking beam, means for pulling down upon theother end of said rocking beam, and means for traversing said axle'alongsaid runways, the inclination of said rocking beam remaining unaffectedby the operation of said traversing means.

4. A foundry ladle crane, comprising in operative combination a truckadapted to run upon rails, a structure mounted. upon said truck andadapted to pivot thereon upon a vertical axis, and a rocking beammounted on said structure, said rocking beam arranged. to oscillate in avertical plane upon said structure and to receive an independenthorizontal travel in said plane, the foundry ladle-being carried by oneend-of said rocking beam.

5. In a foundry ladle crane, the combination of a horizontal turn-table,a structure rotatably mounted upon said turn-table. horizontal runwaysupon said structure, a pivoted jib adapted to travel-upon said runways,one end of said jib supporting the,

foundry ladle, means for exerting a down ward pull upon the other end ofsaid jib, and means for sustaining the reaction of said downward pull,said reaction means including rollers adapted to travel beneath saidrunways.

.6. A foundry ladle crane, comprising a turn-table, a structurerotatably mounted upon said turn-table, means for slewing saidstructurethereon, a rocking beam upon said structure, said beam carryingat one end the foundry ladle, a horizontal axle upon which said beam ismounted,-1neans for guidingsaid axle to travel in a horizontal planeupon said structure, a pair of auxiliary jibs connected at one endptothe opposite extremities of said axle, gu1de sh'eaves mounted upon saidauxiliary jibs, a pulley mounted. upon said rocking beam at the endOPPOSltG' structure adapted to pivot about a vertical axis, a rockingbeam, an axle for said rock ing beam, means for guiding said axle forhorizontal travel in a direction perpendicular to its axis, a foundryladle attached at one end of said rockingbeam, and means for controllingthe inclination of said beam to raise and lower said ladle independentlyof the horizontal travel of said axis. I

8. A foundry ladle crane, comprising a structure adapted to pivot abouta vertical axis, a rocking beam ada ted to travel upon said structure, aladle pivotally carried by said rockingbeam, and independent mechanismsfor slewing said struct'ure about its verticalaxis, for rocking saidbeam to raise and lower said ladle, for causing said beam.

to advance and retire said ladle, and for tilting said ladle about itspivot on said rocking beam, all saidmechanisms being operated directlybyelectric power, and means for controlling said "independentmechanisms.

- 9. A foundry ladle crane, comprising a structure adaptedto'pivot'around a vertical axis, a ladle-support mounted onsaid'st-r'ucture, means for oscillating said ladle-sup port in' order toraise and lower the ladle 'without lifting said pivotal structure, and

means for tilting the ladle in the planeof oscillation of its support.

10. A foundry ladle crane, comprising a structure adapted to pivotaround a vertical axis, a ladle-support mounted on saidv structure,means for raising and lowering the ladle without lifting said pivotalstructure, means. for guiding said ladle-support in horizontal travelupon'said structure, and means for tilting the ladle upon a horizontalaxis.

11. A foundry ladle crane, comprising a structure. adapted to pivotaround a vertical axis, a ladle-support mounted on said structure, saidladle-support consisting of a rocking beam, an axle for said beam, meansfor controlling the rocking movement of said beam upon its axle,ladle-pivotsuponsaid ladle-support, said pivots having a common axisparallel to said axle, a bevel gear mounted co-axially of said pivotsand controlling the inclination of the ladle, a second bevel gearmounted rotatably upon said axle, planetary pinions connecting saidbevel gears, and means for rotating said second bevel gear in relationto said-axle.

12. A foundry ladle crane, comprising a structure adapted to pivotaround a vertical axis, a ladle-support mounted on said structure, saidladle-support consisting'of a rocking beam, an axle for said'beam, meansfor controlling the rocking movement of said beam upon its axle, theladle upon said ladle-support being tiltable upon an axis parallel tosaid axle, a worm gear rotatably mounted upon said axle, a worm meshinwith said worm, means for operating sai worm, 'said operating meansincluding an electric motor and a telescopic shaft, and

means for transmitting to the ladle the rotary motion of said worm gear,said trans- 'mitting means being unaifected by thero'ck- 'ing movementof said-beam upon said axle. ARTHUR THOMAS.

